2025 Ozu Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in March)

#cityDAYTour #Shikoku #大SU #大岛城 #松山市 #爱hime Matsuyama in Shikoku is most famous for Dogo Onsen, but in fact, just over an hour's drive to the west, you can reach another small town with beautiful natural scenery - Iyo Continent, which is very suitable for a day trip to Matsuyama City. Morning: Depart from Matsuyama City JR Depart from Matsuyama City JR Station and take the train to Osu City. This journey takes about an hour and allows you to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Shikoku along the way. Matsuyama City, the capital of Ehime Prefecture, is famous for its hot springs and historical sites, making it an ideal starting point for a day trip. Dazhou City Dazhou City is a castle with a history of more than 400 years, located in the center of Dazhou City. The castle is famous for its well-preserved wooden structure and spectacular castle tower. Visitors can climb the castle tower to overlook the beautiful scenery of the entire Osu City and learn about the history of Japan's Warring States Period. Lunch: Osu-robata Aburaya Enjoy lunch at Osu-robata Aburaya, a traditional Japanese robatayaki restaurant. The restaurant provides fresh local ingredients to create delicious barbecue dishes. The atmosphere here is warm and gives people a strong sense of Japanese culture, making it a great choice for tasting local food. Fumoto Yokocho Fuhimoto Yokocho is an old street full of history, lined with traditional Japanese buildings and shops. There are many specialty shops and cafes here, where tourists can buy souvenirs, taste local snacks and feel the unique charm of Dazhou City. Wolong Villa Wolong Villa is an elegant Japanese garden located on the outskirts of Dazhou City. With beautiful ponds, stone bridges and tea rooms, it's a great place to relax. Visitors can stroll here, enjoy the changing natural scenery of the four seasons, and experience traditional Japanese garden art. Nakamura District Green Park Nakamura District Green Park is a family-friendly green park with spacious lawns and play equipment. This is a good place for local residents and tourists to relax and have fun. They can picnic, take a walk and enjoy the beauty of nature. Dusk: Return to Songshan At the end of the day's journey, take the train back to Songshan City.

When you visit Matsuyama, you often explore not only Matsuyama itself but also the nearby small towns. One of those towns is Ozu City, which I visited. Since it was a weekday in early October, there were hardly any people. It was a quiet and peaceful place. Perhaps because I had just visited Matsuyama Castle, I found this castle to be a bit smaller. However, the significance lies in the fact that this place appeared in 'Suzume's Locking Up'! On the way, I took photos just like in 'Suzume's Locking Up' and also took some on the way up to the castle. I was quite pleased with the photos I took on the way. 📍Location: Iyo-Ozu Station 📍How to get there: 1) Take the JR limited express train from Matsuyama Station and get off at Iyo-Ozu Station 2) Walk for 20-30 minutes (refer to Google Maps) 3) Take the Ozu Circular Bus (board in front of Iyo-Ozu Station) I walked there and took the Ozu Circular Bus on the way back. When you come down from Ozu Castle, there is a large supermarket, and the bus stop sign is across the street from the supermarket. That's the only bus stop near Ozu Castle. The bus may be off by about 5 minutes, but it usually arrives on time, so be sure to take the circular bus.

"Pokopen, Pokopen, who's poking me?" It's a playful phrase used when playing hide-and-seek or kick the can. [Details of Pokopen Yokocho/Omoide Souko] A place where the retro space of the 1950s spreads 📍 We will introduce this spot separately as "Pokopen Yokocho" and "Omoide Souko"! Don't worry, both are on the same premises. "Pokopen Yokocho" refers to the square outside Omoide Souko, where a Showa-era shopping street is opened every Sunday (April to November) 💡 Here, local shops will be selling Chinese noodles, croquettes, yakitori, and other restaurants, as well as shops selling antiques, toys, and miscellaneous goods, and a corner where you can experience old-fashioned games such as playing on stilts, bubbles, and bay tops! Sometimes there are live performances on stage 🎶 "Omoide Souko" is an alley lined with pharmacies, police boxes, barber shops, and miscellaneous goods stores, and a living room from the 1950s that you can actually go up to! This warehouse is completely filled with Showa era collections📺It's a collection I've never seen before, and as someone who's recently fallen in love with retro things and spaces, it was an exciting place✨☆Points to note: It seems that all of the many collections belonged to the owner of this place‼️And that's amazing‼️ ️It's exciting to look at😁 ◼︎Location690-1 Ozu, Ozu City, Ehime Prefecture 795-0012◼︎Business hours・Pokopen Yokocho (Sunday event) April-November Every Sunday December-March Every third Sunday 10:00-15:30・Omoide Souko 9:30-16:30 (Entry until 16:00) *Basically no closing days except New Year's holidays◼︎PricesPokopen Yokocho (Sunday event) FreeOmoide Souko Adults 200 yen Children 100 yen The whole area is called "Little Kyoto of Iyo" because of the old townscape🕰Try strolling around the town🚶🚶♀️ #Sakura2024 #Japan's Great Views #Domestic Travel #Ehime Tourism

A tourist spot in Ozu City 🌿 Not only are the buildings beautiful, but the gardens are also beautiful, and the Hijikawa River flowing in front of it is also beautiful. It is a designated important cultural property of the country, and a place of historical value. It is a relaxing spot where time flows very slowly and peacefully. #supporttourism #Ehime #spectacularview #supporttourism#spectacularview

This luxurious mansion was built on a cliff by a wealthy man who made his fortune through trade in the Philippines, intending to spend his later years there. The two-story house faces a beautiful river and mountains. Although it is currently uninhabited, the scenery allows one to imagine the lifestyle of its past residents in various ways. There are also interesting hidden elements, making it fun to explore.

This is a representative tourist attraction in Ozu, which is about an hour away from Matsuyama by train. It is a villa built by a wealthy person from Ozu to spend his later years. If you love nature, you will really like this place. This was my favorite spot during my entire trip to Matsuyama.

#DomesticTravelRecord Ehime Prefecture is located in the Shikoku region of Japan, and is an area with plenty of natural and historical sites and cultural attractions. It is also known as the birthplace of Ehime mandarins, and you can enjoy fresh mandarins. ﹢﹒ ✦⊹﹒ ﹢﹒ ✦⊹﹒ ﹢﹒ ✦⊹﹒ ﹢﹒ ✦⊹﹒ ﹢﹒ ✦ Outing record ◼︎Towel Museum A facility in Imabari City that proposes lifestyle and culture through towels In the 5th floor gallery, in addition to the permanent exhibition "Into the World of Moomin", towel works with warmth and gentleness are on display ◼︎Imabari Castle A sea castle built by Todo Takatora on the coast facing the Seto Inland Sea Saltwater fish such as sea bream, pufferfish, and small sharks swim in the moat ◼︎Ozu Castle A restored wooden castle tower located in Ozu City It is the first restored wooden castle tower in Japan with four stories and a height of 19.15m, making it the tallest in Japan You can experience staying overnight at a castle for the first time in Japan ◼︎Uwajima Castle A flatland castle built on a hill 80m above sea level in the center of Uwajima Built by Todo Takatora, it was extensively renovated by the second head of the Date clan, Munetoshi, to its current shape It is one of the 12 existing castle towers ◼︎Orange BAR (inside Matsuyama Airport) Near the check-in area on the first floor of Matsuyama Airport Turn on the tap and you'll get orange juice #solotravel #girlstrip #domestictravel #castletour #museum #airport #mandarin #Ehime #Ehimetourism #Imabari #Ozu #Uwajima #Moomin

#GINKGO #Shikoku Wolong Mountain Villa is located in Osu City, Ehime Prefecture, Japan. It is a mountain villa with a long history and unique architectural style. Construction here was started in 1897 by Kawauchi Torajiro, a trader in the Meiji era, and took more than ten years to complete. Wolong Villa consists of three buildings: Wolongyuan, Bulaoan and Zhizhian, and has a beautiful Japanese garden. Built in the Sukiya-zukuri style, these buildings showcase the essence of traditional Japanese architecture. Wolong Mountain in autumn is surrounded by red leaves and ginkgo trees, and the scenery is magnificent. When autumn comes, the leaves of the maple trees and ginkgo trees around the villa turn bright red and golden, forming a gorgeous autumn scene. These red leaves and ginkgo trees complement the traditional architecture of the villa, providing visitors with an excellent viewing experience. The red leaves and ginkgo of Wolong Mountain are usually at their best viewing period from mid-November to early December. During this time, the trees around the villa will show their most beautiful colors, attracting many tourists to watch and take photos. Visitors are advised to plan their visit during this time to enjoy the most spectacular autumn scenery. 📍Address: 411-2 Osu, Osu City, Ehime Prefecture. From Matsuyama, you can take the JR Yozan Line to Iyoshima Station, then transfer to a city bus or walk there

Wolong Mountain Villa is a 3,000-tsubo villa overlooking the scenic spot 'Wolong Abyss' in the Hijikawa River basin. It is said that the third lord of the Ōzu domain, Kato Yasunaga, named it 'Wolong' because 'Hōraisan' resembles a lying dragon. The three buildings, Garyū-in, Furō-an, and Chishi-an, are all exquisite works of art, each with its own unique charm. The borrowed landscape garden, which incorporates the surrounding mountains, the Hijikawa River, and the Nyohōji Riverbank, showcases an elegant harmony between nature and man-made structures, offering different views throughout the four seasons. The picturesque scenery from the garden and Wolong Mountain Villa embodies the forgotten 'spirit of tea' and 'spirit of Japan,' which still breathe life today.

This Japanese garden left a strong impression on me on my trip to Ehime six years ago. I had the chance to stop by Ozu again, so I decided to visit it again! The receptionist will tell you about the old secrets hidden in each place, so if you go, please listen to their stories👂🏻 Just knowing about them will make it many times more enjoyable🙌🏻 You can hear explanations in English, so it seems like it would be fun to bring foreigners with you. The town of Ozu itself, where the garden is located, has retained its old-fashioned streetscape, and there is even a castle, so it is a recommended tourist spot. . . . 📍Garyu Sanso 🗺️Ehime, Japan 🕑9:00-17:00 💰¥550 #FuriTabi #DomesticTravel #ShikokuTrip

#100 Ways to Travel DAY 20: Dazhou City Tour Traveling through four countries is more than just a trip Along the way, there are scenery everywhere In the 1990s, a Japanese drama swept Asia and is known as the originator of modern youth idol dramas, that is "Tokyo Love Story". There is a place in the play that many people know is in Shikoku Ehime Prefecture, but few people have reached the specific location. Maruji said it, and Rika kept saying it. That is the hometown of the protagonist Nagao Kanji, Osu City, Ehime Prefecture. Osu City is located in the southern part of Ehime Prefecture, Shikoku Island, Japan, on the Humigawa River Basin. Like Kamakura, it is an ancient city with a long history of construction and is known as "Iyo's Little Kyoto". The name of the station is: Iyo Continent, because this was the territory of Iyo Country in ancient times. Starting from Osu Station, walk for about 15 minutes to reach the Humigawa River. After crossing the river, you will find Osu Old Town. On the high ground beside the river is Osu Castle. Osu Castle is built on the banks of the clear-flowing Humigawa River. Many military generals in the past dynasties have served as city lords Like the famous Takatora Todo (a retainer of Tokugawa Ieyasu) Unfortunately, the castle tower was demolished during the Meiji period and disappeared for more than a hundred years... The four-story wooden castle tower has been reconstructed and restored. It is based on historical materials such as old photos and wooden models from the Meiji period. A wooden building restored in 2004 Majestic and majestic, reappearing the majesty of previous years Walk from Dazhou City to Wolong Villa You will pass through a row of traditional wooden samurai houses. Still retaining the feeling of history Wolong Villa is the essence of Japanese architecture and outstanding aesthetics Farmhouse style exterior with thatched roof Refer to Katsura Palace, Shugakuin Palace, Rimoto Palace Gojo Palace, etc. Indoor rooms include Xia Yue Room, Qing Chui Room and Yishi Room. Wolong Villa embodies unique craftsmanship Won one star rating from Michelin Green Guide Japan Among them, Wolongyuan, Bulaoan and the Library have been designated as important national cultural properties. Dazhou City is a small town that is remote but not difficult to reach. There are ancient customs, charm, memories, and scenery here, but there are no people. Attractions: Iyoshima Station Fuji GRAND Ozu shopping mall Dazhou City Chengshan Park Wolong Villa Fun ideas in the old town Accommodation: Ota Hotel, Osu City Today’s riding mileage: 0 kilometers Cumulative riding mileage: 1315 kilometers #Japan #四国 #四国平路 #四国Banlutonghaohui #Seto内海 #德岛 #apo灵场 #kochi #Tosa神场 #爱hime #sanukishinjang #香川 #伊yospiritual field #biketrip #二人行 #公法师 #南无大师极光天 #四国平路88燇sho #yubianlu #shimaamikaido #小豆岛 #Setouchi National Park #Don’t ask me how much it costs to travel #Ask yourself how many years of youth you have left #japan #tokushima #kochi #ehime #takematsu

#100 Ways to Travel DAY 19： An earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale occurred at 11:17 Japan time last night. The epicenter was in the Toyogo Channel in Ehime Prefecture, Shikoku, with a depth of 50 kilometers. The Uwajima Oriental Hotel where I stayed was located in Ehime Prefecture, the rock district at the epicenter. The earthquake of September 21 didn't wake me up. This time I was sleeping soundly in the guest room on the sixth floor of the hotel. Suddenly, a sudden earthquake shook me and I jumped out of bed. I quickly dressed, picked up my bag and mobile phone, and I hurriedly moved to the first floor and saw that many people had gathered in the open space outside the lobby. The vases and display items at the elevator entrance were staggered. Then I called my wife to report that I was safe. When I returned to the room, I turned on the TV and every channel was on. Playing an earthquake report, the authorities said there was no need to worry about triggering a tsunami. I lay in bed and felt 3-4 aftershocks throughout the night. Although each time did not last long, it made me tremble all night long and made it difficult for me to sleep well. Today’s riding realization: Some roads must be walked alone. This is not loneliness, but choice. If you are insignificant in other people’s world, then shine in your own world. Visit the shrine: ◎Ryukoji Shishiichi Ryukoji Temple is located in a highland with pleasant scenery ◎Forty-second edition of Butsumokuji Temple ◎43rd Meisekiji Couple's Cedar and Patio Painting ◎Begoshichiban Kinzan Desekiji Temple, 820 meters above sea level, Kobo Daishi’s Dharma Protective Stone Accommodation: Ota Hotel, Osu City Today’s riding mileage: 84 kilometers Cumulative cycling mileage: 1315 kilometers #Japan #四国 #四国平路 #四国Banlutonghaohui #Seto内海 #德岛 #apo灵场 #kochi #Tosa神场 #爱hime #sanukishinjang #香川 #伊yospiritual field #biketrip #二人行 #公法师 #南无大师极光天 #四国Banlu88燇sho #yubianlu #shimaamikaido #小豆岛 #Setouchi National Park #Don’t ask me how much it costs to travel #Ask yourself how many years of youth you have left #japan #tokushima #kochi #ehime #takematsu

# City Day Trip Wolong Hill Mansion in Tai Chau City It's really worth taking a ride with Continental City Three of the buildings are nationally important cultural properties The innermost building, Immortal, is above the shore of the Huchuan River The fence is also not high, so walk carefully The view is very beautiful and cool Suggestions are not just as simple as visiting a person’s home. It is when resting so slowly sit down and enjoy the scenery. Sitting outside Mitsukoshi Department Store in Matsuyama City Uwajima Bus, get off at Osu Honmachi Bus Station and walk for 10 minutes. #Ehime Prefecture #Taizhou City #Wolongshan Mansion #100 Ways to Travel

Dazhou City, the symbol of Dazhou City It is rare to use wooden reconstruction of the castle tower Although it is not an extant sky guard, the moat is gone But the surrounding scenery is worth seeing Especially because it is by the river, the Huchuan Bridge that is the bridge across the river on the main road is more majestic. You can visit this Osushi city called Iyo Little Kyoto by the way Take the joint ticket of Wolong Mountain Villa, which only costs 800 yen, and you can visit both places. It is recommended to take the Uwajima bus directly from Matsuyama City Station or outside Mitsukoshi in Odaiba and get off at Osukuhonmachi, then hike. #EhimePrefecture #Osu City #Osu City #Osu Castle Town #Iyo Little Kyoto

\A must-see for animal lovers/ Do you know this place? Cat Island🐈Aoshima Aoshima, a remote island in Ehime Prefecture The island has a population of just 6 people! There are 120 cats🐈 Board from the regular ferry [Aoshima] near JR Iyonagahama Station in Ehime Prefecture⛴ It takes 35 minutes to get to Aoshima✨ The fare for the regular ferry is 🎫700 yen one way for adults🎟350 yen one way for children. Payment is by cash only‼ ️ It's very relaxing, so if you're on a #trip to Ehime, be sure to stop by! ✨ ■Nagahama Port Parking Lot Address: 1030-16 Nagahama, Ozu City, Ehime Prefecture Tel: 0893-52-2700 (Aoshima Kaiun Co., Ltd.) ↑ Park your car here and board the boat ⛴ 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 This is Megumo, who travels domestically and abroad and stays in hotels every week.•♬ I'll be posting great travel information (*ˊ˘ˋ*)｡♪:*° If you like it, please like👍 or follow me. 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 𓐄 #Ehime Prefecture #Ehime Tourism #Shikoku Travel #Aoshima #Cat Island #Travel with Me

It was restored as a wooden castle in 2004. I visited by rental car, parked in the parking lot, and went to the castle. The azaleas and other flowers blooming along the way were very beautiful. The atmosphere of 'Nipponia Hotel Ozu' at the foot of the hill was also wonderful. I heard that during dinner time, you can enjoy a meal while viewing the illuminated Ozu Castle. You can enjoy both the castle and the architectural beauty, and it seems like you can fully experience the retro castle town. While thinking that I would like to stay here someday when I have the chance, I then headed to Uwajima Castle.

Do you like cats? I love them. I want to see their free and relaxed, adorable appearance forever, right? 🐈 If you are like that, I recommend Aoshima in Ehime Prefecture. This place is also known as a paradise in the Seto Inland Sea, and there are more cats than people here. Currently, there are about 100 cats living here for a population of about 10 people. Although it is a famous tourist destination, there are almost no people in the morning, so when I visited, there were only two other people there besides me. Therefore, you can relax while having dozens of cats all to yourself. That time was a wonderful day that I still remember. If you go to Shikoku, please visit this island! Many cats will welcome you 🐈 Information • The number of ferries is limited, so be sure to check it out • There are no accommodations on the island, so it is a day trip • To access the ferry to the island, take the train to JR Iyonagahama Station. #CatIsland #Shikoku #Ehime #Sakura2024

When we visit Fukuoka and buy a JR pass, we can travel to Mount Aso. We can take the Shinkansen to Kumamoto Station and then transfer to the train to Aso Station. But when we arrived, we took two trains from Kumamoto to Ozu Station and then from Ozu to Aso Station. If you have a JR pass, you don't have to pay any additional fees. The local trains here are quite similar to our diesel railcars, except that all cars are air-conditioned. The cars are colorful and the inside is clean. It is a single track that has to wait to pass, just like in Thailand. #TravelFukuoka #TravelJapan #RideJapaneseTrains #TripFreeAccommodation

Getting there: Ozu's old town can be accessed in a 20 minute walk from Iyo-Ozu Station. Highlights: Ōzu is a Japanese city located in Nanyo, the region occupying the southern half of Ehime Prefecture. The city of Ozu grew as a castle town during the Edo Period. The old town around the city center retains an atmosphere reminiscent of bygone decades, with nostalgic stone-paved alleys and old-fashioned houses of both Edo and Meiji Period architecture. There are also many old merchant houses and samurai residences remain in the district. One famous icon is the Ozu Redbrick Hall, which is a remnant of Meiji western architecture. There is also the Pokopen Yokocho Alley which recreates the ambiance of an arcade in the 1950s. #bucketlistreboot #traveljapan #culturewalk

Address: 903 Ozu, Ehime 795-0012, Japan. Getting there: Ozu Castle can be accessed in a 20-30 minute walk or five minute taxi ride from Iyo-Ozu Station. Highlights: Ozu Castle stands on a hill by Hijikawa River in the northwestern part of downtown Ozu. The castle has its origins in the 1300s, and it was rebuilt a few times over the years upon destruction by fire, as well as natural and human-caused disasters. 😔 Unlike many other castles that were rebuilt in the last century using ferro concrete, the main keep of Ozu Castle was crafted mainly with wood and traditional construction techniques. As a result, it looks close to the original castle not only from the outside but also inside. The main keep is flanked by turrets on two sides, an interesting feature that is quite rare among Japanese castles, many of which have just solitary standing main keeps.😬 Opening hours: 9am to 5pm daily Admission fee: 550yen #bucketlistreboot #traveljapan #culturewalk

Address: 411-2 Ozu, Ehime 795-0012, Japan. Getting there: Garyu Sanso can be accessed in about a 30 minute walk or from Iyo-Ozu Station. Highlights: Garyu Sanso is a subtle yet outstanding villa located by the river east of Ozu's old town. The villa was built around 1907, rustic in appearance and traditional in construction methods but artistic in features. You will first arrive at the main building called Garyu-in, a big, wooden, thatched-roof house. Here there are a few seemingly simple, yet brilliantly conceived rooms. Each room has interesting features, such as intricately carved transoms, elegantly made lattices, unevenly sized tatami mats, tastefully decorated door handles, aesthetically pleasing alcoves and coffered ceilings. Opening hours: 9am to 5pm daily Admission fee: 550yen #bucketlistreboot #traveljapan #culturewalk

This is the first four-story, four-storey wooden castle tower in Japan to be restored after the war! It is said to be the tallest in Japan🇯🇵✨ The wooden structure was really beautiful. I went up to the fourth floor and was surprised by the view outside😳 I really thought that the townscape of Ozu is wonderful. #supporttourism #Ehime #greatview #supporttourism#greatview